COLUMBUS - A Latina legislative aide accused three GOP lawmakers and other staff linked to a candidate seeking to lead the Ohio House of Representatives of racist and sexist comments in a letter to a Democratic legislator Sunday.

“These experiences have been among the worst in my life. I have been deeply affected on a day-to-day basis,” legislative aide Marissa Reyes wrote in a two-page letter to Democratic Rep. Kristin Boggs, who represents the part of Columbus where the woman lives.

She urged Boggs not to "support a leadership team that promises to solve problems that they themselves are perpetuating.”

All the lawmakers accused of misconduct supported Rep. Larry Householder’s bid to lead the Ohio House of Representatives; no allegations were made against Householder.

Householder, a former speaker, unseated current Speaker Ryan Smith in a Monday afternoon vote and will lead the chamber for the next two years. Democrats helped Householder win with 52 votes.

Reyes told The Enquirer her conscience compelled her to come forward after she read Householder was offering racial sensitivity training as a bargaining chip.

"I do not advocate for any candidate for Speaker. I just hope the people who have treated me in these ways are not put in greater positions of authority," Reyes said in a text message.

Wooster Rep. Scott Wiggam, Reyes' former boss, is one of the three lawmakers named in the letter. Wiggam told The Enquirer on Monday that the accusations were not true, and they appear to be politically motivated.

Householder said after Monday's vote that allegations of misconduct have not been made of his staff and hopes past leadership reviewed Reyes' allegations.

"I would think that there’s been a thorough investigation done," Householder said. "We’ll check on that.”

Householder also said he wants to hire a human resources professional to address issues of harassment in the Ohio House.

“If there’s allegations that are made and are found to be true, it’s zero tolerance," Householder said.

Letter details racist, sexist comments

In the letter, Reyes wrote that then-Hamilton Rep. Wes Retherford made lewd comments while drinking heavily at an after party following the House Christmas gathering.

“He caused a scene by screaming and threatening myself and other female House aides not to discuss events from that night and remarked to me at a different point that he would ‘prefer to see me with my dress off,’” she wrote. Retherford did not return messages from The Enquirer seeking comment.

She also accused her former boss of several months, Wooster Rep. Scott Wiggam, of making degrading comments about her gender and ethnicity.

“During my time as a staffer in this office, I had to endure months of unacceptable treatment and was forced to listen to the Representative’s opinions that painted myself, my family and other Hispanics in a demeaning light,” she wrote. “When I respectfully disagreed with the Representative about an issue, I was told that ‘women do not think logically, they think with their hearts not with their brains.’”

Wiggam denied the claims and said there needs to be a full investigation.

"I hope attorneys are involved," Wiggam said. "I think we need to get to the bottom of this."

Reyes also wrote that Monclova Township Rep. Derek Merrin interjected himself into a conversation she was having about her southern Texas hometown at a legislative fundraiser. Merrin added that “Mexicans are dangerous people.”

“He went on to tell a story of how he was ‘nearly killed’ by a group of Mexican thugs while visiting Mexico,” Reyes wrote.

Merrin told The Enquirer that "the allegation is false, pure slander and ludicrous. It is a politically coordinated attack at the last hours to influence the vote for speaker of the House.”

She also detailed behavior from staff, including unwanted advances and Hispanic stereotypes. One told her to change her name to Maria because it sounded more Mexican. She reported being called “that Indian girl” and “the help.” She was told “Mexicans are taking over the United States, but Trump will take care of them.”

“It never occurred to me that at such a prestigious institution, my dark hair and olive complexion would subject me to such unwarranted racist and sexist behavior,” she wrote.

Have the allegations been investigated?

Reyes detailed at least some of the behavior in a complaint filed with House Administrative staff on Sept. 28. An investigation is ongoing, House GOP spokesman Brad Miller said. The Enquirer has requested that complaint.

"The House always encourages staff to bring forward allegations of harassment and discrimination and to file complaints, which is outlined in the House Administrative Reference Guide, and this remains a priority," Miller said.

The Statehouse has grappled with several incidents of harassment and misconduct in recent years. In 2017, then-Sen. Cliff Hite resigned after sexually harassing a woman who worked in the Ohio Statehouse. Then-Rep. Wes Goodman resigned after he was caught having sex with a man in his office. Female lawmakers called on Rep. Bill Seitz to leave after comments he made at roast for the outgoing House chief of staff.

Rep. Stephanie Howse, D-Cleveland, lost a committee leadership position after making an inappropriate comment about race in June 2016 and Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent, D-Columbus, was sent to remedial training for her mistreatment of a legislative aide in March 2017. Rep. Mike Henne, R-Clayton, lost a committee leadership position for an inappropriate comment he made in April 2015.

Did the allegations affect Monday's vote?

Boggs, who does not know Reyes personally, said she found the letter "disturbing" and "disheartening."

"This is information that of course will be considered and given due weight," Boggs told The Enquirer on Sunday night. "She doesn’t directly accuse Larry Householder of any misconduct."

Rep. Larry Householder(Photo: Provided)

Boggs said the lawmakers named in the letter support Householder, but Smith was in charge when at least some of the behavior occurred.

"It’s difficult to assess who is truly responsible," she said. Boggs and 25 other Democrats voted for Householder.

The Ohio House does need better guidelines on how to report sexual harassment, said Boggs, a former assistant attorney general. A task force formed to tackle the problem after two lawmakers resigned was largely abandoned following former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger's departure amid an FBI probe.

A number of Smith supporters took to Twitter Sunday night to denounce the behavior detailed in the letter.

Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, wrote that Reyes did not deserve that treatment. "I understood you had issues with your boss but not nearly to this extent. On behalf of the Ohio House, I am outraged for this conduct and apologize to you."

Wiggam said he was frustrated that his colleagues wouldn't reach out to him about their concerns. "I’m completely sickened and saddened by this kind of attack."